Focus ST, Mk 5/6 Golf GTi, Astra VXR, Magane, Leon etc.

 

Yes. Probably the biggest sector of the car market. So much to choose from that you can buy the one which feels right for you. For example , I had three new A3 sport backs in a row even though I wouldn't drive a Golf . And I know they are basically the same car!

 

The GQV only wins in looks, sadly and honestly...in every other department it will lose to another hatch.

 

I wanted to say that but wasn't brave/stupid enough:lol:

Actually, it doesn't even win on looks if we're being honest

 

Surprised by the negative comments??
Certainly don't think it would lose to a golf mk5 gti had one also had a bmw 130i m sport and hasn't got the outright power but I think a nicer thing to look at in my view. And a vxr Astra they are pants other than a straight line .
Haven't owned yet as I said and my views are only on what I know and have driven in the past thanks for the comments though good to hear other views!

 

And a vxr Astra they are pants other than a straight line .

That just isn't true for the Astra VXR in its latest version. Reviews have been extremely complimentary about the handling and the roadholding.

"Steering which feels alive is something that has become harder to come by as new cars switch to less talkative electric power-steering systems, but the VXR’s electro-hydraulic set-up helps buck the trend. Turn into a corner and, as you hit a bump, the wheel will feed back exactly what’s underneath the front tyres to your hands. It gives you huge amounts of confidence.

And that’s a good thing considering how capable this car is in corners. A lot like the Megane 265, you have to be travelling at really high speeds before the Astra VXR even begins to feel flustered on a twisting, poorly surfaced UK B-road.

The car comes as standard with a limited-slip differential, which helps draw you into the apex of a bend and slingshot you out the other side.

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/vauxhall/astra/18753/vauxhall-astra-vxr#ixzz2sOI41hid"

 

Current Astra VXR is up there with the Megane RS. Looks wise, it's epic.

 

It's not epic in my opinion but GM has really benefited from hiring this guy from a Ford a few years back http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WcOo618F8Qs&desktop_uri=/watch?v=WcOo618F8Qs

 

Yes I agree about the latest one (vxr) and they do now look a lot better! but my budget was upto 15k so not available for me, thanks for the comment!

 

Fair point - the earlier ones weren't good at turning corners at speed :lol:

 

To be honest if I were driving alfas discontinued five years ago, then any of those named probably would feel/look epic, but after driving all of them for a few weeks all I'd want to do is get back in my Giulietta! But if you don't drive one regularly you wouldn't understand that.

 

There's a reason why I'm driving older Alfa's & it's certainly not financial..........

 

Golfs and Astras make me yawn

 

Honestly, my fav of the current hatchbacks is the new Focus ST!

 

I couldn't take any more of the 147 as an everyday car . It was so refreshing at first and it may have stayed that way if I didn't do the driving I do.

 

I wish they'd given the G double wishbones on the front though (and two less doors)

A 3 door coupe esque G would be great

 

Wait for the Giulia! - I'd put money on it being at Geneva next year! (You might need to sell all three of those old ones though!!!)

 

To squadrone rosso,
Thanks for your interest and comments and I know that the brera you have is a beautiful looking car, but they also have short comings in a lot if areas other than its looks as in the gm sourced v6 alfa/fiat worked on or not it was fairly underpowered /thirsty at the time, their was a lot of comments when people found out that info years ago alfa romeo people said it was one step too far, but my original thread was mainly based on the look of hatches at the moment and I still think it looks way better than most on the road alfa has to change and move on as it did with your cars and cars they make now and u still think a 1.75 engine making the power it does is impressive if nothing else, thanks for your input.

 

We run a much heralded Alfa Busso V6 & a newer GM/FPT collaboration V6 side by side. There can be no fairer, less biased comparison.

Yes it's thirsty, yes it costs £490 a car to tax but it's a damn fine machine to live with & own.

The build & quality are excellent, interior material quality is lovely.

Nothing this side of a Maserati is so desirable.

There's a very strong chance that the Brera will share the driveway with a Maserati in September, sacrificing the GT & possibly 500 along the way:wow:

 

Yes.
But , as suggested by the original poster, what's this got to do with the title of his post?

 

Got to be the Megane RS265 Cup.

 

I went with a Focus ST, I nearly upgraded to a QV from a 1.4MA but decided to go for the Ford for all the extra bits of tech you get. Missing the looks and exclusivity of the Giulietta but don't miss driving it that much.

 

My current issue with AR is that it prices the GQV so high in our country and then some time down the line the prices plumet...I guess it is to be expected but what the hell, atleast stand by your customer who took the plunge and bought a brand new GQV and is looking to buy a brand new GQV again...but not at the price they ask, give a man a discount or something...

Stock for stock the GQV is a good fast hatch...

 

I went through just about every competitor before I went with my heart and purchased the G.

A3, took about 20 seconds to discount. I thought I liked audi, but zero character and simply an expensive Golf.

A1, don't laugh. A worse VW Pol0, harder riding and stupidly expensive. Go figure

Golf, hugely competent. But then's so is my Bosch dishwasher, enough said.

DS3. Very tempted but maybe too small.

DS4. Just strange, but not in a Citroen type way which would have been OK.

Honda CRZ. Maybe but it's a 2 seater really.

Focus. The best of the bunch.

Plus a load of others barely worth a mention. I thought I was a petrol head but tbh this car buying lark is an over rated pass time. Not least having to deal with a mix or arrogant ****'s, lies or half wit sales people.

Unfortunately, on a pure logic basis I have to agree with the comments above. The G isn't the best in class by a significant margin, but.............

If you want to apply that method we'd all be driving Golf's or worse BMW's. This isn't a criticism but IMHO, and I'm including the GQV, they are not hot hatches. You shouldn't even attempt to compare them to say Focus ST's. I know the simplistic press always will. They use 0-60 and £'s and there you go.

Fortunately, and sorry for stating the bleedin' obvious, we are driving something different, not something willfully quirky/weird, more visceral? . The more I drive it (I'm coming up 2yrs now a long time for me) the more I appreciate it and that isn't just down to the looks. I could go in to ride handling, refinement, economy, steering feel blah blah but I'm not sure that will make a jot of difference.

 

Thanks for your comments and great to hear from actual owners!!
I think you have a feeling about a car and you obviously have it, I have ran most makes of cars for years and have a good knowledge of them but after 15 years since my last alfa I have come back to them, my old cars were two alfa 33 cloverleafs comparing those to an escort or Astra at the time was a joke , they at the time had so more about them! They weren't reliable but way better I wanted to own one and I wanted to clean them and I looked out the window to have a look! My alfa 155 against a mondeo or vectra look at those now again I wanted my alfa it wasn't just transport and I am hoping the GQV gives me the same feelings as before I know megane rs are awesome to drive but the interior?? All cars are not perfect and you can pick holes in them all , just hope I get in my G and enjoy the drive !

 

I understand what you are saying but if the GQV is not a hot hatch in the form of a hatch back with high power and a reasonably competent chassis, what would you call it I think it is way above warm hatches maybe not focused like several are, but same goal just thought about slightly differently, how many people have hot hatches and drive them to their limits all of the time nobody. These are all normal cars built to a price for normal people wanting a little extra.

 

how many people have hot hatches and drive them to their limits all of the time nobody.

This comment is bang on the nail :thumbs:

What's the point in having the fastest, best handling motor in the driveway if you aren't prepared to push it to its limits - and in my experience of motoring - very few drivers are.

What do the owner's do - take copies of What Car or whatever - and then compare who owns the 'better' motor

Having the fastest hot hatch on my driveway makes me cringe at the very thought and I can think of few things, motoring related at least, more boring :vomit:

Surely the most important ingredient is driver experience - rather than figures on paper - and that's what the Alfa offers.

 

For me nothing else compares, I'm in my thirties so didn't want an over stated boy racers car, ie focus, astra, Subaru, Mitsubishi, you get the idea, seat. Anything I havnt listed I find just to boring to look at or drive I hate sitting in a car & thinking how dull is this interia. I too only had 14k to spend, I find it spot on for me, it's quick it handles well, it's cool & stylish without being lairy. It's everything I need. I see Alfa romeos more as a love affair, you want something that looks cool to be seen with, but has a naughty side sometimes to keep you on your toes, I wouldn't have an affair with a psycho like the focus or astra, as its just going to end in tears. You also wouldn't have an affair with something boring as that's what you may already have at home. That's what sums Alfa up for me, I love curves & shapely bum with a pleasant face, damn I 've just sold my self another Giulietta.

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Obj yea & I forgot the key I love the key it should have a place in an art gallery, I know it's only like saying I'm going it out with a lady because she has a cute ears but it's the little things that count. I just love seeing the badge on the steering wheel, it's nice & colourful & brute, rather than the mostly bland badges of other manufacturers.

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Excuse the spelling my phone has dyslexic auto correct.

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Appoligies for going on & on, but you know that feeling when your walking down the street with your new fit lady friend, you just know everyone is haveing a sneaky peak, name another car in this bracket that gets this kind of attention from people. I've had Mr & Mrs random pop up in all kinds of places to co congratulate my beautiful G QV. That's only happened to me in alfas the GT before it got the same attention. It's not all about speed, handling, pen & paper figures, but more about presence, the kind of precence you normally get with cars costing 3 or 4 times as much.

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GREAT!!!!!!
People who know what I mean and actually like the cars they have taken a beating on this thread!!! Which I am surprised by thanks for the positive talk !!!!
Looking forward to getting mine again !

 

There is no Giulietta hot-hatch. The QV is a grand-tourer, and it's a very good one. But it's not a Focus ST, VXR or Megane Cup rival.

The chassis is actually very good on the Giulietta, as you can tell by the way it never feels like "a fast car". The stiff body structure allows for softer damping settings - good for 95%+ of customers, not so good for people who equate hard suspension with "sportiness". In any case, spending more on your tyres will improve the handling of your car more than any damping changes.

Right now, there's no viable market for a Giulietta GTA - these cars invariably lose money, and their effect on sales is debatable. I don't think people who try a Focus ST are interested in a regular Focus, or vice versa, and the ST cannot be making money for Ford at its current pricing. The golden rule in Alfa these days is to not offer anything that won't make money, so that means no GTA. Even the halo 4C is sold at profit.

 

There is no Giulietta hot-hatch. The QV is a grand-tourer, and it's a very good one. But it's not a Focus ST, VXR or Megane Cup rival.

The chassis is actually very good on the Giulietta, as you can tell by the way it never feels like "a fast car". The stiff body structure allows for softer damping settings - good for 95%+ of customers, not so good for people who equate hard suspension with "sportiness". In any case, spending more on your tyres will improve the handling of your car more than any damping changes.

Right now, there's no viable market for a Giulietta GTA - these cars invariably lose money, and their effect on sales is debatable. I don't think people who try a Focus ST are interested in a regular Focus, or vice versa, and the ST cannot be making money for Ford at its current pricing. The golden rule in Alfa these days is to not offer anything that won't make money, so that means no GTA. Even the halo 4C is sold at profit.

Yep...